Statement by the Afghanistan Organization for Development of Human Rights (AODHR)

The Afghanistan Organization for Development of Human Rights (AODHR) expresses deep concern over the negative impact of U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and their wider effects on international justice. These measures, which included travel bans and financial restrictions on ICC officials, undermined the Court’s independence and credibility, discouraging cooperation from states and civil society organizations worldwide.

The sanctions affected civil society actors in multiple situation countries—including Afghanistan, Palestine, Sudan, and the Philippines—restricting their engagement with the ICC, limiting access to international support, and delaying justice for victims of grave human rights violations.

In Afghanistan, survivors of crimes committed under the Taliban’s de facto regime faced heightened vulnerability. The sanctions hindered documentation of atrocities, including gender-based persecution and arbitrary detentions, leaving victims isolated and justice delayed.

Even after their removal, the legacy of these sanctions continues to weaken confidence in the ICC and embolden perpetrators of serious international crimes. AODHR calls on the international community to:

1. Safeguard the ICC’s independence from political interference.
2. Protect and support civil society organizations documenting human rights abuses.
3. Strengthen cooperation between states, the ICC, and NGOs to ensure accountability.
4. Raise awareness of the rights and needs of victims and survivors in Afghanistan and other affected countries.

AODHR reaffirms its commitment to supporting justice, documenting violations, and amplifying the voices of survivors, and urges renewed global solidarity to uphold human rights and international accountability